To help with your child’s transition to all-day kindergarten, West Des Moines Community Schools dismisses kindergarten classes early from Aug. 23-Sept. 8. During the afternoon, kindergarten teachers schedule time to visit with families to get to know their students and how they can best help them at school.

The State of Iowa has passed a new law, requiring the meningococcal (specifically ACWY) vaccine for students entering grades seven and 12, beginning with the 2017-18 school year. All incoming seventh- and 12th-grade students will need to submit a completed Certificate of Immunization with the Meningococcal (ACWY) vaccination to avoid being excluded from school next year.

(submitted by Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate’s office)

Two West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) teachers were recognized for organizing the district’s participation in the statewide Iowa Youth Straw Poll for the 2016 general election. Students voted on their choice of the 2016 general election candidates. The results were then totaled with results from other Iowa schools and reported on Iowa Secretary of State Paul D. Pate’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/youth/polI/resuIts.aspx.

Stilwell Junior High teacher Sherri Bogue.

Stilwell Junior High School teacher Sherri Bogue and Clive Learning Academy facilitator Skye Welch stepped up and registered to include WDMCS students’ voices in the statewide straw poll. As a result of their efforts, their students received a unique civic education experience. Former Valley High School teacher Tracy Johnson was also recognized for organizing participation in the straw poll while a Valley teacher.

Because of the leadership from Iowa teachers like Bogue and Welch, the Iowa Youth Straw Poll was nationally recognized this year, winning the National Association of State Boards of Education Award for Outstanding Leadership in Voter Education from the National Parent Student Mock Election. Additionally, the social media program, #IAparticipate, was a national top five
finalist for a Government Social Media Award.

Clive Learning Academy facilitator Skye Welch.

Pate sent these teachers a congratulatory certificate for their part in making the Iowa Youth Straw Poll nationally recognized.

“My thanks to all of the teachers and school administrators who helped make the Iowa Youth Straw Polls a huge success,” Pate said. “More than 250 schools and 56,000 students participated statewide. We could not have done this without the efforts of the teachers. The Youth Straw Poll was a fun, hands-on learning experience for students across the state that hopefully will encourage them become engaged in civics in their community.”

The Iowa Youth Straw Polls were the culmination of Caucus 101 and Elections 101—free, online, social studies curricula developed by Secretary Pate and written by Iowa teachers for Iowa students.
They are available for anyone to use at Elections101.org.

The Dick Bittner Sixth-Grade Memorial Track Meet will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, at the Valley High School track, 3650 Woodland Ave., West Des Moines.

The 100-, 200-, and 800-meter races and the 4×200 relay will be held in the morning, along with the field events. The track meet will continue with three relays, the sprint medley, the 4×70 shuttle, and the 4×100 after lunch. “Chariot Race” and “Champion’s Run” events will also take place after the 100-meter dash.

Nutrition Services will provide breakfast and lunch to the students. Breakfast will be served as soon as the students arrive, and lunch will be served starting at 11 a.m. A la carte items will be available all day long. All students, visitors, and family members may use a school lunch account or cash to pay for lunches. Students will be able to get breakfast and lunch with a negative account balance, but they must have enough money in their account to pay for any a la carte items.

The West Des Moines Police Department would also like to remind attendees not to park in front of the mailboxes on 39th Street.

The track meet is the culmination of a physical education unit. Students have the opportunity to enter as many as four events. The West Des Moines Community Schools elementary physical education staff is proud to sponsor the event and invites families and staff to attend the annual Dick Bittner Sixth-Grade Memorial Track Meet.

Sixth-grade learners at Clive Learning Academy are hosting a vendor fair that will raise funds for a celebration on the last day of school. Students are working as entrepreneurs to create goods and services to sell at the fair on Thursday, April 6.

Each business group could apply for loans of up to $50. The students completed business plans and presented them to local business owners in the Des Moines metro area. The business partners gave each business feedback on their product idea, finances, and advertising plans.

Four Clive Learning Academy learners present their business plan to metro area business partners.

A group of Clive Learning Academy learners present their business plan for the vendor fair.

Clive Learning Academy learners listen to suggestions for their business plan.

Geoff Wood, founder of Des Moines workplace community Gravitate, was one of the business partners who visited Clive. He included his experience in Gravitate’s March 8 newsletter, writing:

It was enjoyable and I learned a lot about what is on the mind of today’s 6th graders. For instance there is a thing called “slime”—which is apparently very popular—and any product involving candy is perceived to have a good chance at success, as one student told me, “all kids like candy”. Good point (I told her that most adults do, too).

The sixth-grade business groups will begin production and advertising after spring break. All profits from the fair will go towards the students’ last day of school celebration.

You’re Invited to the Vendor Fair!

Join us at the sixth-grade vendor fair from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, in the Clive Learning Academy Gym, 1600 73rd St., Windsor Heights.

Fifth-grade Jordan Creek Elementary students read the first pages of books during First Page Friday.

Fifth-grade students at Jordan Creek Elementary and Fairmeadows Elementary have been meeting with their teachers and teacher librarians for “First Page Friday,” a reading activity that gives students the opportunity to experience new books and genres. The students read the first page of several books, then choose one of the books to finish and share with their classmates. They can also share the first page of a book they like with the group.

“It’s all about reading for enjoyment and becoming a lifelong reader,” said Jordan Creek Elementary teacher librarian Kristy Skoglund said. “We wanted to expose students to more books,
and we wanted them to enjoy books.”

Jordan Creek fifth-graders Will Larson and Tag Booth both said First Page Friday has helped them find books they otherwise would not have read. Larson said he decided to participate in First Page Friday because he trusted his teacher’s recommendations.

“I like that it is a community of people who like to read,” he said.

Skoglund and Jordan Creek fifth-grade teacher Jeri Daniels gave the following tips for trying out First Page Friday at home:

Ask your child what they are reading and what it is about.

Just read! Show your child your “reading life” and read in front of them, whether it is an e-book, a paper book, or an audiobook.

Access the West Des Moines Community Schools Online Library through the AEA. It has more than 1,000 free e-books and audiobooks. Ask your school librarian for the user ID and password to access this free library!